a horticultural farm in Meghalaya. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar
About one lakh Dutch roses are expected to be sold, 50,000 on the occasion.
Soaring prices of roses resulting from shortfall in
production across the country due to extreme cold have brought smiles to
rose cultivators in the northeast, particularly those from Mizoram, as
traders vie with one another to cater to the huge demand for Valentine's
Day celebration in the region.
Mr. Rajesh Prasad,
Managing Director of Zopar Exports Private Limited, a pioneer in rose
cultivation and a leading grower in the region told The Hindu that
about one lakh Dutch roses are expected to be sold in the northeast.
About 50,000 roses are likely to be sold on Valentine's Day alone.
Demand for about 40,000 flowers is expected to be met by production in
the region while the rest would be flown in from Bangalore and Pune, he
said.
In 2011, over 50,000 roses were sold in the northeast market during the celebration.
Apart
from rose cultivators in Mizoram, strawberry growers in Meghalaya are
also going to get a good return this time. Prices of strawberry which is
also considered a cherished gift has already shot up from Rs. 200 to
225 for each kg.
Rose production in Nagaland and
Meghalaya was hit because of extreme cold weather this winter. In
Mizoram the weather was a little warmer due to which the production was
on the expected lines.
Mr. Prasad said that due to
shortfall in production the wholesale price of rose in the Bangalore
auction market has already shot up to Rs. 6 to 9 per stick. As a result,
the retail price is also expected to shoot up to Rs. 20 or more as
against Rs. 10 per stem during 2011.
In 2002 when Mr.
Prasad pioneered rose cultivation he could send on an average only 300
roses a day to Aizawl. Now, the Aizawl market consumes on an average
4000 roses a day.
Mr. Prasad said that every year the
demand has been growing by leaps and bounds in the country and the
northeast is no exception. The increasing demand is an indicator of the
huge potential the region has for more and more local people taking up
rose cultivation as a key livelihood opportunity.
Rose is primarily grown in Mizoram, Nagaland and some areas of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
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